Finally it's here. Spring Break! We all needed it. Some of us are staying around town. Others are traveling to the 4 corners of the United States and beyond. Whether staying or going, this is a great opportunity to open our eyes and ears and taste-buds and soak in Americana.
Around 1830, a Frenchman named Alexis de Tocqueville took a grand tour of the United States to investigate our country and how America worked- politically, culturally, and economically. The book he published about his travels, Democracy in America remains one of the best books ever written to characterize America and what makes us who and what we are. Characteristics of our national culture that he noted then are still with us today.
Here is a chance for all of you to be DeTocquevilles. Tell us about your time back home or your travels around over Spring Break.
Where are you traveling? What makes that part of America unique? How would you describe it? What regional foods did you try? What expressions or accents did you hear? What did you notice about the flora and fauna, the landscape, the architecture? How do people make a living there? Where did they mostly come from? What activities can you only do there? What events- cultural or sporting did you attend? Visit any museums? What did you learn?
How is there different than here? When did you think, "I'm not in Aurora anymore"? What did you see there or on your way to and from that says "America" right... or wrong?
Post your observations and comments here... like a journal. We'll map out our travels when everyone gets back.
Spring Break- Road Trip America
Finally it's here. Spring Break! We all needed it. Some of us are staying around town. Others are traveling to the 4 corners of the United States and beyond. Whether staying or going, this is a great opportunity to open our eyes and ears and taste-buds and soak in Americana.
Around 1830, a Frenchman named Alexis de Tocqueville took a grand tour of the United States to investigate our country and how America worked- politically, culturally, and economically. The book he published about his travels, Democracy in America remains one of the best books ever written to characterize America and what makes us who and what we are. Characteristics of our national culture that he noted then are still with us today.
Here is a chance for all of you to be DeTocquevilles. Tell us about your time back home or your travels around over Spring Break.
Where are you traveling? What makes that part of America unique? How would you describe it? What regional foods did you try? What expressions or accents did you hear? What did you notice about the flora and fauna, the landscape, the architecture? How do people make a living there? Where did they mostly come from? What activities can you only do there? What events- cultural or sporting did you attend? Visit any museums? What did you learn?
How is there different than here? When did you think, "I'm not in Aurora anymore"? What did you see there or on your way to and from that says "America" right... or wrong?
Post your observations and comments here... like a journal. We'll map out our travels when everyone gets back.